Certification

Professional Certificate - Academic Requirements

To advance from the Initial to the Professional classroom teaching certificate, there are two separate academic requirements: Master’s degree and Graduate Coursework Content Core (12 semester hours).

Master’s Degree Requirement

The Master’s degree requirement can be met with any Master’s degree awarded by an institution of higher education that is accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized for this purpose by the United States Department of Education or is authorized by the NYS Board of Regents to confer degrees and whose programs are registered by the Department.

You can research accredited institutions of higher education here: https://ope.ed.gov/dapip

You can research Master’s degree programs authorized by the NYS Board of Regents – including those leading to educator certification – here: https://www2.nysed.gov/heds/IRPSL1.html


Graduate Coursework Content Core (12 semester hours) Requirement

The Graduate Coursework Content Core (12 semester hours) requirement can be satisfied by a Master’s degree using one of the options below. If the Master’s degree does not fit any of those criteria, the candidate may need to complete additional graduate coursework - either in the subject of their Initial certificate, or content-linking pedagogy (teaching methodology) of that subject.

Master’s degrees that will satisfy the Graduate Coursework Content Core (12 semester hours) Requirement

  • Option #1: Candidate has previously been issued a Permanent or Professional certificate in NY
    The candidate’s Master's degree was used previously to issue the Permanent or Professional certificate. Therefore, it will satisfy the Master's degree requirement and Graduate Coursework Content Core requirement for any subsequent Professional classroom teaching certificate.

  • Option #2: Master’s degree completed when the Initial certificate is a Students With Disabilities Generalist or Generalist title
    If your Initial certificate is any of the titles listed below, any Master’s degree conferred by an accredited institution of higher education is acceptable. See the Master’s Degree section above for information about accreditation.
    • Early Childhood Education (Birth - Grade 2)
    • Childhood Education (Grades 1-6)
    • Generalist in Middle Childhood Education (Grades 5-9)
    • Students With Disabilities (Birth - Grade 2)
    • Students With Disabilities (Grades 1-6)
    • Students With Disabilities - Generalist - Grades 5-9
    • Students With Disabilities - Generalist - Grades 7-12
    • Students With Disabilities (All Grades)

  • Option #3: Master’s degree (or a higher degree) resulting in a college recommendation
    The Master’s degree is acceptable if it was an educator preparation program that resulted in an institutional recommendation (college recommendation) for certification - whether in New York State or another jurisdiction. The recommendation could have been for a classroom teaching, administrator, or pupil personnel services certificate (e.g., school counselor, school psychologist, school social worker). Note: If an Advanced Certificate program is completed after the Master’s degree and it results in such a college recommendation, it will be accepted. Doctorate degrees will also be accepted if they result in a college recommendation.

  • Option #4: Master's degree (or higher degree) in the Initial certificate area or “related” area
    The Master's degree may also be in the subject of the Initial certificate title or in a closely related subject area. For example, if the applicant is pursuing the Social Studies 7-12 – Professional certificate, a Master’s degree in history would be acceptable. If they were pursuing English Language Arts 7-12 certification, a Master’s degree in literature or creative writing would be acceptable. For examples of related areas, see the Professional Certificate - Chart of Related Master's Degrees.

  • Option #5: Master’s degree in one of the pedagogical topics listed below
    A Master’s degree in any of the majors below is considered to be a “related area” for ALL certificate titles and will be accepted.
    • Special Education (Teaching Students With Disabilities)
    • Curriculum and Instruction
    • Instructional Technology (or Educational Technology)
    • Literacy (Remedial Reading)
    • Bilingual Education
    • Teaching English as a Second Language

    While the degree does not need to result in an institutional recommendation (college recommendation), it must be completed at an institution of higher education that has an approved educator preparation program in the state where the institution is physically located.

What to Do If Your Master’s Degree Does Not Meet This Criteria


If your Master's degree does not fall under the options listed above, it is considered unrelated to the Initial certificate and thus is not acceptable for the Graduate Coursework Content Core (12 semester hours) requirement. However, some of your graduate coursework may be acceptable if it satisfies the criteria described below. Your application will need to be evaluated by our staff to determine if any coursework can be accepted.
  • Graduate coursework in the content area of the certificate

    Acceptable courses would typically be offered by the department of the subject being pursued (e.g., - Chemistry courses would be offered by the Chemistry department). Coursework must be completed at an institution of higher education that is accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized for this purpose by the United States Department of Education.

  • Graduate coursework in content-linking pedagogy

    Content-linking pedagogy refers to coursework focused on the methods of teaching content in the subject area of the certificate sought. For example, a secondary Biology teacher could take courses in advanced curriculum development specific to teaching Biology. Content-linking pedagogy can be combined with content in the subject area to meet the 12 semester hour requirement for Professional certification. For example, the candidate could complete 6 semester hours of graduate-level Biology coursework and 6 semester hours of graduate-level content-linking pedagogy (teaching methods) focused on Biology to satisfy the Graduate Coursework Content Core requirement.

    All content-linking pedagogical coursework must be completed at an institution of higher education that is accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized for this purpose by the United States Department of Education with an approved educator preparation program in the state where the institution is physically located.
Last Updated: October 18, 2023